• r2-124-10
    Fragment of triton. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)

Fragment of Triton

Date
1st C. AD, Roman
Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
NoEx68.020
Material
Marble, Stone
Object Type
Sculpture
Sculpture Type
Mythological Figure
Site
Sardis
Findspot
Found S of Izmir-Salihli highway in a vineyard near Bldg. A.
Description

Lower part of a triton has a twisting tail set at an angle to the plinth. It curves in two directions and turns in on itself. Front of upper tail is covered with four rows of large overlapping leaf-like scales with slightly ridged surfaces. Inner side of back-lashing tail has two large creases representing folds created by the sharp bend of his back. Lower end of tail, just before the break, has four more scales, more rounded than the upper ones. Base is circular and plain.

This might be a copy of a Hellenistic triton, part of a group from a nereid monument. Except for a channel at juncture of tail and plinth, surface shows little evidence of drill work. Extensive use of the chisel and abrasives. The model was Greek, but simplification of surface is undoubtedly due to copyist’s treatment. Probably early Imperial.

Condition

Grayish white marble, medium crystals.

Lower portion of monster, sliced off at both ends of curved body. Base, carved in one piece with monster, broken on two sides.

Dimensions
H. 0.55; W. of monster at base 0.20; L at base 0.38; plinth: L. 0.45, W. 0.37, Th. 0.12-0.095.
Comments
Cf. several tritons from a large group of sea creatures found in the nymphaeum of Laecanius Bassus at Ephesus, Bammer-Fleischer-Knibbe, Fuhrer Museum Selcuk-Ephesos, 47ff., inv. nos. 1576, 1578, 1579; R. Fleischer, Skulpturen aus dem Nymphaeum, 422ff., esp. fig. 2. For nereids and sea monsters on a sarcophagus, Cumont, Recherches, pl. 21:1. Cf. also E. Bielefeld, Nereiden, esp. pl. 41. For Hellenistic giants, see Bieber, Hellenistic Age, figs. 459ff. Cf. also S. Lattimore, Thiasos, esp. figs. 20, 24, 25.
See Also
Bibliography
Author
NHR